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Asian celebration

Paul Donovan

October 28 2012, 1:01am, The Sunday Times

Why should there be a BBC Asian Network? After all, there is no BBC Canadian Network or BBC Australian Network. But 30,000 Canadians or Australians were never thrown out of their countries, arriving here penniless and unable to speak English.

The Asian Network, which originated in the Midlands in the 1970s to cater for those thus expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin, was successful while confined to local radio. When it expanded onto the national stage, as happened 10 years ago with the BBC’s launch of its digital-only networks, the costs grew hugely, but the audience did not. Two years ago, the corporation decided to close it.

Famously, it decided to close 6 Music at the same time. But that was saved by listener power…